In various Linux related blog posts and other commentary, I have noticed an undercurrent of references to beer drinking. Now, IMO, there is only one standard by which all other brews are measured, but while I may be "right", I suppose there is room for disagreement, or at least discussion.

Obviously, there isn't room for a poll of every possible brand name, but I suspect that Linux users tend to be connoisseurs in other areas as well as the OS upon which they base their computing experience.

A few parameters:
By "light" I refer to color, not caloric or alcoholic content. Light and dark are the main differentials in the various categories, but I am not really aware of truly dark beers in the Australian or Mexican/SA categories, so they aren't specified. (Modelo Negro is not really dark beer.)

Since my own beer drinking experience occurs in the USA, I hope I can avoid too much emphasis on American categories. I am aware that "America" includes more than the US, but for labeling ease here, I have ignored that knowledge.

It goes without saying that draft is superior to bottled or canned.

The categories:
Guinness (Mother's milk)
Other European Dark
European Light
American Light (Bud, Miller, and the pseudo-premium ones like Sam Adams)
American Dark (Michelob Dark, Shiners Bock, etc.)
Microbrew Light (From anywhere in the world)
Microbrew Dark (Ditto)
Australian
Mexican/South American
Oriental (Mostly rice based in my experience)
Other (I don't know if I can add categories later, but leave a comment if you think I should try.)
None (A place for teetotalers to register on the issue.)

Hi,

Not drinking beer doesn't automatically mean that one is a teetotaler......

I don't like the taste of beer (ok Palm on a very warm day being the exception to the rule). I do love Single Malts (I'm basically a whiskey drinker).

Unfortunately, there are several options that apply for me. Guinness (not the variety from Canada), other European dark, European light, microbrew light, and microbrew dark all work for me. Quite a few of the suds I drink are brewed locally at www.bellsbeer.com.

I'm not into the darker sort, they are generally too bitter to my taste, so my choice would be European Light. And with the exception of Guinness and a few other ones, you won't find any non-Belgian beer in my country (Are we beer nazis?). But then there are plenty: Duvel, white beer, Leffe, Kriek, Ename, Stella, Chimay, Bush, Palm, ... MMMMM (runs of drooling to the fridge - no, wait, it's only 4 PM).

Such a poll makes the inaccurate assumption that we drink the same beer all the time. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I highly commend your attention to a very fine article on Page 44 addressing how beers should be properly matched to various levels of professional activity. The article is specific to litigation support, but is equally applicable to any field of endeavor.

My normal libation comes from Pottsville, PA - not the mega "brewers" we all hold in such disdain.

Next in line would be a fine German Pils. Not the pasteurized crap imported to America, I mean the real thing.

One I grew very fond of, that I have yet to find in America, is Australia's Victoria Bitters. Fosters is just as bad as the BudMiller swill, give me the VB any day.

But I'd have to agree with druuna, nothing beats a fine single-malt Scotch and a really good cigar.

Real Ale
Draught & canned Boddington's Bitter
Carlsberg, Stella Artois

No US pale fizzy cat's pee lagers.

My absolute favourite is Conserdonk Agnus Dei, a belgian abbey beer. Prosit!

PS - Is this advertising?!?

I drink only Open-Source beer.

I haven't had a good beer in a while. I'm not partial to domestics much here in the States, since I can't even call Budweiser or Miller beer, ugh! I do enjoy lagers and Ales, and Sam Adams is so far the only real US domestic that is good, as well as Shiner Bock. Non-domestic: I like NewCastle Brown Ale, and the more expensive type, Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale. Bass is also pretty good. Guinness is too flat for my tastes, even though it is a dark beer, and I prefer dark beer over lagers. I have also tried some oriental beers. Kirin Ichiban (Japanese) is a little too dry for my taste, but Asahi is good. Chinese beer: TsingTao, and Yenjing (At least I think thats how it is spelled).

Everyday beer is now Yuengling Black & Tan- inexpensive but good. When I traveled for a living, local brews in returnable bottles always tasted the best- Heileman's Old Style was a favorite, as were many others.
"Premium" beer- Chimay (any of the Trappist Monk beers), ahhh.... really too many good beers to list

Whenever I feel guilty about my drinking I check out the benefits of drinking on google. Rum or whiskey is what I drink when my programs work or don't work, when my papers are accepted or rejected, when my research gets me results or gives me junk, when I feel happy or sad. Whatever maybe your journey keep walking.

ice cold lager on a hot day, bitter and real ale in the winter. Simple as that!

That is a truism. I considered allowing more than one selection, but decided against it. In the poll, you state your general preference, then elaborate as necessary with commentary.

Nice article. Nice picture.

But you're a Pom!
Don't you lot only drink warm beer

As long as its not Foster's ...

Anyway, there is no such thing as a bad beer, only good beer and better beer

--Ian

I barely ever drink anymore, but spent enough of my 'past life' consuming beer that I felt I'd give input.
I voted for 'European Light' which to me means Heineken or Beck's (the two top choices), with occasional Stella, Leffe, St.Pauli Girl, DAP, and Holsten Festbock thrown into the mix.

I hafta agree with that amusing little caption on page-1 however; American domestic beer is terrible.